Is Ignorance Bliss?

I cannot remember when the saying, “Ignorance is Bliss,” first came to my ears. It seems to have been around for a long time. I have been an educator for most of my life and love to study, learn and understand everything around me. I have met many people with the same desire to understand things and thus to erase ignorance.

The dictionary states that to be ignorant is to be “without knowledge, uninstructed, uninformed and unaware.” There is quite a large difference in each of these four areas. We are all without knowledge in certain areas of our lives. We are uninstructed, uninformed and unaware of many things. To cite examples in my personal life, I am without knowledge of the Chinese language although I am aware there is more than one dialect spoken in China. I am “uninstructed” in heart surgery, or any other kind of surgery except cutting up a moose. I am “uninformed” about the newest advances in cancer research and I am “unaware” of an enemy who might be speaking against me. None of these admissions would surprise you because you, too, have such a list. There is no shame in being ignorant of certain things providing we are attempting to learn about the important things we should know. Wisdom is acknowledging “I do not know.”

There are areas of life in which we should fight and strongly resist being labeled as ignorant. Avoid making decisions about people since we may be ignorant of facts that affect decisions about them. We must not simply shut our eyes to our own sins or to the sins of others as though those sins do not exist. We need to improve our knowledge of things that enter into and affect our lives. Increasing awareness and facing reality are important aspects of becoming mature and capable. Ignorance can be costly.

Hosea 4:6 is one scripture that ought to bring us up short. God says: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” Ignorance and rejecting knowledge can be fatal. It is clear from this scripture that ignorance is not simply accepted by God - not when it is possible to remove it. Israel and her priests had direct information given to them. Closing their eyes to that information and claiming ignorance would not save them. In time we humans can “forget” great truths that we have known.

I was shocked to learn that the Holy Scriptures were left to gather dust in the great temple that Solomon had built (2 Kings 22:8-13, 2 Chronicles 34:14). The people of Israel suffered for their ignorance of those scriptures. I have pondered the tale of the sudden death of Uzzah. He seemed to be doing something good when he touched the Ark to prevent it from tipping. Because of ignorance, the Ark was being brought into Jerusalem incorrectly and, because of ignorance, Uzzah paid with his life (2 Samuel 6:1-7). There had been clear instructions given by God on how to transport the Ark (Exodus 25:12-15).

God does not excuse ignorance when it is caused by carelessness, stubbornness or rebellion against Him. Somehow David “forgot” how the Ark was to be transported. Was he unaware of the scripture? Did he not realize that we need to live by every word that comes out of God’s mouth (Luke 4:4)? God warned His people to carefully obey Him (Deuteronomy 15:5). Ignorance of this sort is certainly not bliss.

Ignorance of the laws of God does not mean the result of breaking those laws will not be felt. God is merciful to those who lack knowledge through no fault of their own - but even error or sin done in ignorance requires accountability (Numbers 15:22-29). Paul acknowledged his ignorance in persecuting the church (1 Timothy 1:12-16) and noted God’s mercy upon repentance. Repentance can only come when ignorance is removed. God is merciful towards those to whom His way has yet to be revealed. The book of Jonah testifies of His justice. It concludes with God expressing His pity for those who “cannot discern between their right hand and their left.”

Is there a time when ignorance is a good thing? The answer is “yes”. The Bible carries many admonitions against being “informed” through gossip and slander. Rumours and character assassinations that are passed about should be ignored - that is, we are better off being ignorant of such things. Ecclesiastes 7:21-22 has very good advice. We are told not to listen or take to heart everything people say “lest you hear your servant cursing you.”

It is better to remain ignorant about things others say about us. We have the personal obligation to examine our own conduct, words and actions. If we do that, we will not have to answer to anyone. Once we look at ourselves in all humility and move to be close to God - then the words of others cannot hurt us. There are instances when it is better not to know.

 It is good to be ignorant in the matter of mind-altering drugs, or to be ignorant about the perversions and corruption around us. That does not mean we close our eyes to these activities as though they do not exist, nor should we be oblivious of what goes on. The ignorance I am referring to is to be less knowing of the perverse and corrupt experiences. Our responsibility is to shun evil. To do so, we must be able to recognize evil.

It is possible to become educated in knowing what is sin and evil – without getting too close to the actual experience. It is not necessary to know what gods pagan people worship. We do not need to know how they worship their gods (Deuteronomy 12:30).
We have limitations. We vary in ability to understand, to remember and assimilate. We also have differing potentials in our lives. All of us fall short in the comprehension of God and spiritual matters. Paul stated that we see through a glass “darkly” as though it were coloured or smoked glass (1 Corinthians 13:12).

Faith means being somewhat ignorant of certain matters - and yet trusting God (Hebrews 11:1). There is a third heaven mentioned in the Bible, which is where God the Father lives (2 Corinthians 12:2, Revelation 4:1-11). The glimpse we have of this marvel is framed by the limitations of our understanding. It is fair to say we have vast areas of ignorance about the third heaven, God’s throne, God’s power and majesty. It is acceptable to have areas of ignorance and not knowing everything leaves us with less stress and things to fret about - the date and method of our death is one example. These can be areas where “ignorance is bliss.”

In the final analysis, ignorance of God is not bliss. We cannot hide behind ignorance. We are to get a big eraser and erase any ignorance about God. How do we do this? God says to ask, seek and to knock – and then it will be opened (Luke 11:9).